“I think I’d rather be cold.” “I don’t like being sweaty.” Hotter opens as a piece of verbatim theatre, with its two charismatic stars, Ell Potter and Mary Higgins, lip-synching the words of interviewees aged 11 to 97. They asked people what makes them hot and their answers kick-start proceedings with major laughs.
What soon emerges is not just a show about what others think but about what goes on in Potter and Higgins’ heads. They were friends, then lovers, then broke up. They would have cancelled Hotter’s Edinburgh Fringe debut except that the venue had already been paid for. Thank goodness they decided the show must go on. The result is a compelling work from a young duo you could call part of Generation Fleabag. They talk so candidly about their body insecurities it is almost too painful to watch.
Elsewhere, they are riotously funny, particularly when it comes to discussing their relationship peccadilloes and masturbation habits.
They are strong on physical humour too, throwing cartoonish shapes as they mouth various quotes of others. In one of many moving set-pieces we hear a recording of Potter’s late grandmother discussing youthful romance while Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade plays and Potter and Higgins gently dance.
What comes across most potently is the power and positivity of friendship. Their message clearly touches a nerve. Numerous routines prompted deafening whoops of recognition. Towards the end the audience was invited onstage to party with them. At normal comedy gigs this would prompt instant sphincter-shrivelling reticence. Here there was almost a stampede. Scorchingly enjoyable.
Until Saturday (020 7478 0100, sohotheatre.com)
